Undoubtedly you were as disappointed as we were when Whole Life Times closed its doors in March. It had been a thriving community publication before ownership changed in 2002. The magazine had been rescued from near-extinction 12 years earlier, and had grown into a valuable connection point for Southern Californians hoping to create a more balanced way of living.
When the magazine and web domain were purchased by a budding national chain that promised to be a powerful voice for new ideas, hopes were high for a bright future. Yet in just a few years ownership had changed twice more, and the magazine’s focus had narrowed and seemingly irrevocably changed. There were murmurings that it had lost its soul.
But I’m writing to you today with good news. The soul of Whole Life Times is alive and well! Once again, like the phoenix rising from the ashes, not only the soul, but also the heart of the magazine is back.
We are thrilled to be recreating the local magazine you knew and loved. We’ll continue to write about sustainability and green living, but we’ll also bring back integrative health, alternative healing, personal growth, metaphysics, inspiring spiritual teachers, activism and social justice, and progressive politics. We will be your community nexus once again.
We’ve frankly been surprised at the overwhelmingly positive response we’re getting as we spread the word. Everyone knows these are challenging economic times, but all we hear is joy and excitement at the return of this publication to print and web.
Please join us for our June launch issue. And let us know what you’d like to see in your magazine! We’re happy to be reconnected to the larger LA community, but mostly we’re doing this for you—our loyal readers and advertisers—to be your voice, the voice of our community.
Please help us make the new Whole Life Times a success. Because our success will be your success!
From my heart,
Abigail Lewis
Editor-in-Chief
9 Comments
Please do call me on this: 310-287-2813.
Dear Abigail, Will WLT now become an advocate and representative for local LA holistic-alternative-green-spiritual cultural creatives?
This is the vision always in front of WLT that it has yet to fulfill (I used to work for WLT and WLExpo in the 1980s).
Making WLT the voice of the local LA scene does not require any big editorial changes. The same Whole Foods friendly articles can still be there. Rather evidence WLT represents local activity looks like two things: coverage of local events; and, partnering with powerful local allies.
1) Coverage of local events –
– Make arrangements to list Bodhi Tree all events monthly.
– Arrange to list all Agape and MSIA events monthly.
Whole Person Calendar appears to be foundering in its mission to list all events Santa Barbara to San Diego: it covers too large a geographic area for consumers to access. Santa Barbara to San Diego is neither a viable local nor a viable regional entity to consumers, based on responds in the last eight years, according to my intelligence.
WLT could focus LA County events as its mission. This is the strongest advertiser draw as well, I believe. The future is local and regional for print publications.
2) Partnering with powerful local allies –
– Goodlife.com, TreeParty.com, LASpirit (if its still functions)
– Oasis TV in Century City.
– Intl. Coaching Federation LA (ICFLA.org)
Westside Holistic Chamber of Commerce (holistic practitioners) WHolisticChamber.com
– Green Business Network (green builders, architects, environmentalists) http://www.greenbusinessnetworking.com/aboutus
– ProjectButterfly.org – downtown L.A.
– Good Medicine
– L.A. Permaculture Guild
– Etc.
If you are not actively seeking to list the events of these groups, your natural allies, then how can WLT claim to represent the voice of the LA holistic-sustainable community?
Sincere warm regards to you,
Bruce Dickson (310) 287-2813 Healing Each Other Medical Intuition
IseeIntoYou.net
PS: Rumor has it Whole Foods is starting it’s own magazine. In my mind, this underscores the necessity for WLT to have as part of its mission to be the voice of the local holistic-alternative-green-spiritual cultural creatives.
Hi Bruce, Thanks for taking the time to visit our website and write such a thoughtful note. LA is a big town with a lot going on, and while we can’t list every event or connect with every person, we intend to feature events, stories and people from our community in every issue. If you check out our June-July issue, I think you’ll see that goal reflected throughout the magazine. And it’s always nice to hear about more potential allies. Thanks again for taking the time to connect with us.
Abigail, I’m really excited to hear about the relaunching of Whole Life Times. I just came across some 2007 issues that my sister had around and fell in love with the magazine all over again. It is such a wonderfully unique and inspiring read every time.
How do you plan on distributing the magazine? Is there a way for me to subscribe? I, like many other readers I’m sure, would be willing to pay a yearly subscription just to have the opportunity to keep this great magazine alive.
Please let me know! Thank you
Ana
Hi Abigail!
We met at the New World Fair in Pasadena. I misplaced your contact info and so glad to have found you online and that your lovely pub is still ticking!!
It would be great to connect again.
Much Success!!
Carol
Abigail,
I picked up the print edition, and was overjoyed to see you back as editor. Didn’t realize all the business travails going on behind the scenes until I dug into the online edition.
I have no idea how you’d make money out of it, but I am a heavy user of RSS to read selected blogs/get news from the internet. I’d LOVE to see WLT fully expand in this direction; I see you have some selected areas of the magazine currently available via RSS. My vision is to have all the articles WLT normally runs, delivered in real time to my RSS reader. This is probably the direction Kindle is moving toward (if you ever saw the movie “Minority Report” there is that brief scene where a Kindle-like USA Today “newspaper” is updated in real time with currently breaking news – I suspect this is the future of newspapers and magazines. Surely Amazon/Kindle is working out the details of how publications would make money in this new delivery medium.). Anyway, my $.02.
Again, great to see you and your writing back at WLT.
Abigail — Just a brief thank you for the wonderful review of the Shanti G DVD. Your reviewer really nailed it! All our best from Sayulita, Mexico, where we are sunning (it’s POURING here now!) instead of freezing in Santa Fe!
Blessings,
David & Adonnah Langer
Hi Ana, You can get a digital subscription sent right to your inbox every month, and now you can get the magazine mailed to you six times a year. Just let us know! Thanks for your support.
“Something” told me to sit down at the computer and search Whole Life Times. As a previous author of several feature articles, I was greatly pleased to know of the magazine’s comeback. Also, really love your online presence. Thank you for making a huge difference in our world.
Abigail!
Once again, I’m impressed.
You have what it takes to deliver what you promise. Whole Life Magazine’s comeback is indeed a Blessing to all its loyal readers. I wish your Magazine wider patronage and great success.
Good Luck to you & your team.